After two shutout periods, Buffalo wins it in the final 20 minutes.
Score: Sabres 3, Penguins 2
Shots: BUF: 34, PIT: 33
Buffalo Sabres Goals: Jeff Skinner (9), Kyle Okposo (1), Alex Tuch (6)
Pittsburgh Penguins Goals: Sidney Crosby (13), Lars Eller (3)
Plus 1: Skinner Gets Things Started
Sabres supporters sat through 40 minutes of misery before Jeff Skinner kicked off Buffalo’s third period comeback. With the hosts down 2-0 going into the final 20, Evgeni Malkin was penalized two minutes for hooking against Mattias Samuelsson.
The Sabres had already blown three power play chances, so fans were delightfully surprised to see Skinner finally break through Pittsburgh goalie Alex Nedeljkovic’s netminding wall to make it 2-1.
No. 53’s ninth goal of the season was his second with the man advantage in three games. Since most Buffalo players struggle to score on PPs, it’s refreshing to watch one forward capitalize on them. Maybe Skinner should double as a power play coach.
Plus 2: Ox Ties it Up
Some five minutes after Skinner’s PP goal, captain Kyle Okposo made a wrist shot on Nedeljkovic with some help from Rasmus Dahlin, Victor Olofsson (and Erik Karlsson) to even up the scoring. Okposo had some great chances early in the night that the Pens’ goalie thwarted, so it was great to see him not give up and get his first goal of 2023-24.
Usually playing on the team’s fourth line, No. 21 hadn’t even had an assist since Oct. 27. Let’s hope he won’t be so quiet on offensive production going forward.
Plus 3: Tuch Scores the Late Game-Winner
Forward Alex Tuch was not happy when fans booed the Sabres off the ice at the end of the second period. While he didn’t get either of Buffalo’s first two goals, he got the lead and ultimate game-winner with 2:44 left in regulation.
Tuch’s sixth this year was the nail in the visitors’ coffin and certainly wiped away any traces of the smug smile Sidney Crosby normally wears on his face during matchups.
No. 89 has a knack for putting opponents away. He did it against Jack Eichel when the former Sabre came back to town after the famous trade, he managed it against Toronto on Nov. 4 and he pulled it off versus Sid the Kid and Co.
Plus 4: UPL Closes it Out Again
Far too often in recent years, the Buffalo Sabres have blown third period leads and lost games thanks in part to their goaltender’s inability to keep opponents from scoring in the final minutes or seconds. The team’s recent loss against the Washington Capitals is a classic example.
However, Sabres’ netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has bucked that trend. For the second straight contest, he held off attackers in the third period and helped Buffalo get two points.
Jamroy27 had the Comment of the Game: “That’s a win at home that can change a season – amazing effort in the third and UPL got his job done. He is the starter, no question.” Luukkonen is looking more and more like a starting goalie. If he keeps winning games the way he did against the Blackhawks and Penguins, he will be.
Final Thoughts
If you turned this one off after two periods, you would have thought the Sabres were destined to lose. Thankfully, the team had a final 20 minutes to turn things around and they did.
Unfortunately, there are still some weak spots. Buffalo’s power play continues to be poor, ranking an NHL-25th. Sloppy puck control and bad giveaways led to two Penguins’ goals in the first and second, respectively.
The Sabres managed to win it in the third but can’t always rely on coming from behind. They’ll take the victory, but fans still want to see 60 minutes of consistent hockey from start to finish, something that’s been far too infrequent.
The Blue and Gold travel to the Garden State next to face the New Jersey Devils in a Saturday night back-to-back. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m at Prudential Center.
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